Vancouver

At Downtown Suites we were closed for the holidays from December 24th-January 1st and did not hold any showings. We are however back in business and will resume showings on January 3rd. We hope everyone had a great Christmas and a wonderful new year.

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Season’s Greetings! Here a few of the pix from the office holiday bash!

Victoria, Tanja and Judy

Margaret was there, too, but had her eyes closed in every photo!

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Here are the new listings for Downtown Suites this week:

1702-928 Richards St:$1150, 490sf in Yaletown
Beautiful Studio, gas fireplace, storage locker, 1 parking spot

2802-198 Aquarius Mews:$1750, 804sf in Yaletown by the Marinaside
2 bedroom, 2.5 bath, in suite laundry, magnificent views of the city and the marina

2501-1328 W Pender: $1850, 810sf in Coal Harbour
2 bedroom, 2 bath, gas fireplace, in suite laundry, great views of the city, ocean and north shore mountains

1901-1111 Alberni St: $2950, 1530sf in Downtown
2 bedrooms both with ensuite bathroom in the Shangri La, fantastic modern kitchen with top of the line appliances, patio with west facing views of the city

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL BE CLOSED FROM DECEMBER 24TH AT 3PM-JANUARY 1ST. WE WILL RESUME SHOWINGS ON THE 2ND.

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The holiday season is upon us and we have had a good turn out this week. There are people still apartment hunting during the cold and treacherous weather!

Just a reminder to everyone applying to view our suites that we will be closed on December 24th at 3pm and will reopen on Friday January 2nd and resume showings on that day.

This week at Downtown Suites the outcome of all viewers for each suite are as follows:

In the $1000-$1500 per month price range: 2 people
In the $1600-$2000 per month price range: 20 people
In the $2100-$3000 per month price range: 9 people

In the $3100+ per month price range: 1 Person

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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We asked around the office about the past year: what was best and what was worst in your work life for 2008? And what are your hopes for the future, for Vancouver and for Downtown Suites.

Tanja Milosevic, Senior Property Manager

Hope for Vancouver for 2009: that the market will stabilize itself.
Hope for Downtown Suites for 2009: that we continue to grow and that our current team remains strong.

3 great things that happened in my work life this year:

1. We have put together a really great PM team who not only get the job done well but we also have a lot of fun and laughter in the office.
2. The business is growing, we are constantly taking on new suites
3. We’ve received a tremendous amount of good feedback this year from owners and tenants regarding how we conduct our business.

3 worst things that happened in my work life this year:

1. Had to take tenants to arbitration 4 times this year.  This is always a last resort and not enjoyable.  Although, out of hundreds of tenants, 4 is a low number.
2. We had some staff turnover and, because I try to enjoy positive relationships with all my coworkers, staff leaving is always sad.
3. With the current economy, we are starting to see some of our tenants losing their jobs and either struggling to pay the bills or having to break their leases altogether.

Victoria Farrell, Realtor, Downtown Suites Sales

Business Prediction for 2009:  To surpass this year in sales volume and have the new best year I’ve ever had in Real Estate Sales. Achieve my new financial goal.

Prediction for Vancouver 2009:  Towards early spring buyers will realize the potential for purchasing condos in Downtown at the lowest prices seen in many years and the market will begin to pick up again.

The best things that happened to me this year.

1. Being lucky enough to have the privilege of coming to work with Nic and the Team at Downtown Suites. The best company I have ever worked for and the best people I have ever worked with.
2. By far the best year I’ve every had in my Real Estate career, the mostsales volume I’ve every done.
3. Lucky enough to be able to afford to buy a brand new car, a 2008 VW Jetta, which I love.
4. Started on the Rental Property Management Course, which will help me advance in my career.
5. Very close to meeting my financial goal for 2008.

Worst Things that happened to me.

1. My Father passed away about 6 weeks ago. This effected me more than I had imagined and it has taken its toll on me personally and professionally. I had to take a few weeks away from the office to recover, but still had to work during this time with my clients. This was a very difficult period in my life but I’m adjusting now and feeling much better.
2. I had my first bad experience new clients from Mexico who were not forthright with me about their financial situation and I got into a bad contract situation with them when they did not come up with the deposit after subject removal. I learned a few valuable lessons from this.
3. I had a terrible car accident in January. I lost control of my car coming down an icy mountain road and I flipped upside down into a ditch. My car was totalled but I was very lucky to walk away from the accident unhurt.  My guardian angel was looking out for me. This accident turned my life around. I was very shaken up and I began to see things differently. I realized what was important to me and I felt very lucky to be alive. It gave me a higher purpose.

Nicholas Meyer, President

Prediction for 2009: We will increase our portfolio by 25%

Hope For Vancouver: That the new mayor will be able to house all the homeless without touching the taxpayers heritage fund and not raising taxes on property owners.

Good things.

1. Carol agreed to work with us as a consultant and took over the web goddess role
2. Penny came back
3. We have a really great team, managed to hire some wonderful people
4. Expanded the business
5. Kathy reduced her rates

Bad things

1. Can’t think of any

Get in touch here: Downtown Suites Ltd.

Add your comments in the comment form below.

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We’ve just posted our Seasonal Update on the main page of Downtown Suites News. If you’re reading this as an email newsletter, click here to see it!

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This Wordless Wednesday image was taken by gmark1

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Many years ago when travelling in Egypt, I was staying in the home of a devout Coptic Christian in Luxor. My travel companion was a woman, a completely platonic friend. When the Coptic gentleman had to go on a journey, he kindly let us stay alone in his home, but he was quite concerned, surprisingly, not for any of his possessions but that we might defile the place by an illicit sexual act.  Of course we assured him of our chaste relationship and he left trusting us.

At the time his attitude seemed quaint, but all these years later it now makes much more sense to me. In our modern hectic life, there is so little understanding of energy, and the reactions the various forces have on our lives.

I recalled that time in Luxor yesterday when I had the unfortunate duty of serving a breach notice to a tenant. Tanja Milosevic, our senior Property Manager, and I met with the tenant to warn her that an outbreak of disorderly conduct in the suite by her new husband’s friends was cause for termination.

On behalf of our clients, we do not tolerate any infractions or unreasonable conduct. We believe, however, that everyone deserves a warning before termination of the tenancy so I personally went to the suite to talk with the woman. It was an embarrassing and unfortunate moment for us all. While we talked the TV blared on in the background and her cell phone rang several times.

We didn’t talk only of regulations. I reminded her that her home was really her sanctuary and her place of refuge. I felt she understood, even though I must have sounded as old fashioned to her as the generous Copt in Luxor had sounded to me, years ago.

Remembering Luxor

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“Wordless Wednesday” is a blog tradition followed by many bloggers. All that gets posted on a Wednesday is an image. More Wordless Wednesday bloggers can be found here.

Image by rohan.

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